Milestone^® VM Herbicide Now Registered in California

INDIANAPOLIS - September 14, 2007

With Milestone^® VM specialty herbicide from Dow AgroSciences now labeled and available for sale and use in California, vegetation managers there have an effective tool for the control of noxious and invasive weeds, including yellow starthistle, and the ability to restore native plant communities and wildlife habitat areas.

“Milestone VM is a revolutionary product that brings several advances to noxious and invasive weed control,” says Robert Stewart Jr., Dow AgroSciences marketing specialist. “It provides unparalleled results on some of the toughest-to-manage broadleaf weed species threatening roadsides, power lines and wildlife areas today.”

Milestone VM is labeled for use on rights-of-way, such as roadsides, electric utility and communication transmission lines, pipelines and railroads; natural areas, including wildlife management areas, openings and habitats; as well as other noncropland areas.

Low use rates

Milestone VM is a non-2,4-D formulation that was reviewed and accepted for registration under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Reduced Risk Pesticide Initiative. Field trials have shown that Milestone offers excellent control at low use rates, so it not only benefits the environment by reducing the threat of invasive weed species, but it does so with fewer pounds of active ingredient per acre compared with current standards.

Milestone VM provides excellent postemergence control and lasting residual activity on many important invasive plants, which is critical to preventing re-establishment of the target invasive plant or introduction of secondary weed species. Field trials have shown that in addition to yellow starthistle, Milestone^® VM herbicide controls many of the most troublesome broadleaf weeds in California — including henbit; fiddleneck; horseweed (marestail); Russian, diffuse and spotted knapweeds; Canada, woolly distaff, artichoke, Scotch and musk thistles, and many others. Milestone VM translocates quickly throughout the entire plant and deep into the roots for faster, more complete control.

Because of its nonvolatile formulation, Milestone VM has reduced risk to trees and other nontarget plants. It has very low toxicity to wildlife and can be applied up to the water’s edge, such as along creeks, streams and other non-irrigation sites.

“Milestone VM is truly a foundation product. It can be tank-mixed for one-pass brush and broadleaf weed control,” Stewart says. “We anticipate California users will build their vegetation management programs on this brand.”

Please visit www.milestonevmherbicide.com for more information.

Dow AgroSciences LLC, based in Indianapolis, Ind., is a top-tier agricultural company providing innovative crop protection, pest and vegetation management, seed and agricultural biotechnology solutions to serve the world’s growing population. Global sales for Dow AgroSciences, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, are $3.4 billion. Learn more at www.dowagro.com.

For further information, contact:
Nikki Hall
Dow AgroSciences
317-337-4396

Jim Jessen
Bader Rutter & Associates
262-938-5545